Sony Expands Horizons with a New Dedicated PlayStation Handheld Device

Sony aims to make a comeback in the handheld gaming market by developing a new portable PlayStation console.According to a report from Bloomberg, the Japanese corporation is creating a handheld device capable of running PlayStation 5 games on the go.

Sources familiar with the initiative have indicated that the console is in its early development stages and will enable Sony to challenge Nintendo and the highly popular Switch (which has sold over 146 million units to date).

It may also compete with any future portable Xbox hardware from Microsoft, which has shown an interest in the handheld market.

Reports suggest that the device is several years away from being launched and could potentially be postponed before it reaches the market.

Sony’s Handheld History

Sony has experience in producing handheld devices. The company released the PlayStation Portable (PSP) to compete against the Nintendo DS back in 2004. The PSP was eventually followed by the PlayStation Vita in 2011.

Although the PS Vita was the last dedicated PlayStation handheld to be launched, Sony did tentatively revisit the concept with the PlayStation Portal—a remote player for the PlayStation 5 that enables users to access and play their PS5 library over select Wi-Fi connections.

In contrast to the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck, however, the PlayStation Portal is not actually a fully independent system.

Sony opted not to comment on the matter when contacted by Bloomberg.

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